Winter Safety: Be Bright Be Seen
4th November 2019
PEDESTRIANS and
cyclists are being urged to "be bright, be seen" as the darker nights raise the
risks to the county's most vulnerable road users.
The Cumbria Road
Safety Partnership - an alliance of organisations and agencies working to
improve road safety - wants to remind road users that winter nights bring
heightened danger to those using the county's roads.
The partnership
is eager to promote the message that being on or near roads at night can be
dangerous, especially along more poorly lit countryside roads.
However, there
are a number of simple measures that can be taken to minimise the risks.
Edward Burrows,
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service's Watch Manager for Prevention, said: "One of
the ways young people [in particular] can be more visible to drivers is to wear
bright and colourful clothing so that they are as visible as possible.
"Road traffic
collisions can be devastating to attend for all the emergency services
personnel.
"All the members
of the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership work tirelessly to reduce the number of
people killed or seriously injured in the county by identifying the causes and
types of accidents that happen, and through the delivery of road safety
education throughout the year to different age groups and levels of driver
experience.
Chief Inspector
Ben Swinson, of Cumbria Police, said: "It is ourselves and the other emergency
services who are often the first on the scene to serious road traffic
collisions and the results can be devastating.
"So often, such
collisions are entirely avoidable and are often down to driver error such as
driving too fast for the road conditions.
"Dark nights and
poor winter weather mean this time of year can be the most dangerous. I would
urge all drivers to drive with care and to ensure their vehicles are prepared
for the winter.
"I'd also urge
parents and schools to advise their children and pupils to be as visible as
possible by wearing something bright and colourful when they're out.
The road safety
partnership is keen to remind pedestrians and cyclists to always ensure they
wear or carry something bright, both during the day and night.
Carrying a torch at all times is sensible, in case twilight or darkness falls while still out walking or cycling.
